Diversity Research in the Field of Higher Education

1. Diversity Research in the Fieldof Higher Education Dr. Jeffery L. Wilson, Associate Professor VCU School of Education Ms. Olubowale E. Oyefuga Doctoral Student, VCU School of Education

2. Overview • Introduction • Motivations for this workshop • Essentials about Diversity and Higher Ed. • Current Events • Researching Diversity in Higher Ed.

3. Onward….Upward! Virginia Native First Generation Alumni: VCU/Nebraska/UNLV Persistence: “Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence…persistence and determination alone are omnipotent” -Calvin Coolidge

4. Jeff’s Inspirational Figure Quote • “The worker must work for the glory of his handiwork, not simply for pay; the thinker must think for truth, not for fame.” -W.E.B. DuBois

5. O’s bio Little beginnings! • Native of Lagos, Nigeria • First Generation • Alumni: OAU, Ife/IDS Sussex • “You are never too old to set a new goal or to dream a new dream” • C. S. Lewis

6. O’s inspiration quote • “…a constant reminder of the incredible global impact that can be made when an amazing [everyday] person is partnered and supported by those who care for and can truly support her.” Mo Adefeso-Olateju

7. Interesting Quote “This is America, where a white Catholic male Republican judge was murdered on his way to greet a Democratic Jewish woman member of Congress, who was his friend. Her life was saved initially by a 20-year old Mexican-American gay college student, and eventually by a Korean-American combat surgeon, all eulogized by our African American President.” -Mark Shields, PBS

8. Changing Demographics • If current population trends continue, minority group members will be 47% of U.S. population in 2050 compared to 24% in 1990 Source: U.S. Census Bureau Projection

9. There is Rapid Growth Among Groups Who Already Are Under-Represented

10. Social Realities • Changing demographics • Minority/Majority • Population • School Districts • College Campuses • Melting Pot? • Need for Discussion – Differences/Similarities • Tolerance – Understanding • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=epuTZigxUY8

11. Lunch Date Clip Questions • What did I see in the video? • How did it make me feel? • What were my impressions of the key characters? • What did you observe about the reactions of others in the group?

12. Cycle of Oppression

13. Cultural Discussion • Dominant culture • European • Male • Protestant • Immigration • 80% from Latin America & Asian countries (Szelenyi & Chang, 2002) • Our own norms and values • Potential biases • Implications for Interactions: • Social/Work • Cultural Competence

14. Confronting the Stereotype

15. Confronting the Stereotype cont’d • Black men have been portrayed as: “dysfunctional and homogenous group characterized by hyper-sexuality, violence, incarceration, drug abuse, and poor academic performance” (Gordon, 1999) • In the workplace, Black professionals face: • Hostility • Marginalization • Isolation - Williams & Williams (2006)

16. Stats/ Black College Graduation/Incarceration Rates

17. Higher Education Learning Environment • Higher Ed. Promotes good citizenship • Identified as a compelling interest for diversity • Stewards of human/social capital • Various forms of diversity • Mirror of societal current events

18. Students Behaving Badly-University of Oklahoma • In the video, you can hear the In the video, you can hear the Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity cheering “there will never be a nig*** in SAE.”The chant goes on to say, “you can hang them from a tree, but they’ll never sign with me.” -Source: KFOR.com

19. Institutional Choices/Consequences-Wright State University (OH)

20. Current Events in Higher Education • University of California at Berkeley: In February this year Milo Yiannopoulos was scheduled to speak at UC Berkeley. The event was cancelled because of protests which turned violent. In April, an event at which Ann Coulter was expected to make an appearance was cancelled and rescheduled. In September this year, a ‘Free-Speech Week’ organised by a student group was cancelled the day before it was scheduled to hold • University of Virginia, Charlottesville: In August this year what began as a rally against renaming Lee Park in Charlottesville and the removal of the Robert E. Lee statue ended with the death of several persons. Students from UVA were amongst the counter-protestors

21. Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond:  On Saturday, September 16, an out of town group organised a rally to support preserving Richmond’s Confederate monuments. Some of these monuments are close to the VCU Monroe Park campus. A number of students were arrested in the protests • College of William and Mary, Williamsburg: An event in September of 2017, sponsored by William and Mary's student-run programming organization Alma Mater Productions (AMP), entitled “Students and the First Amendment” was disrupted when protestors refused to allow the invited speaker Claire Guthrie Gastañaga, executive director of the ACLU of Virginia, to be heard.

22. Georgia Gwinnett College, Lawrenceville: A student is suing the college over claims that its policies and practices prevented him from religious proselytizing on campus in July 2016. The litigation is still pending • University of Florida, Gainesville: The governor of Florida declared a state of emergency in Alachua County where the university is located ahead of a planned speech by Richard Spencer (president of the National Policy Institute) on the campus on Thursday, October 19, 2017. The event went ahead with heavy police presence on campus.

23. Researching Higher Education for Diversity • Institutional data/datasets: enrollment, retention, graduation • Empirical research: campus climate, quantitative/qualitative inquiries • What does the literature already say: makes the case for what present state is and what needs further researching • Diversity is a “hot-button” issue, therefore, it is important to understand its complexities

24. Evolving Social Dynamics Need for Increased College Access & completion Shape tomorrow’s future workforce/citizens Expanded outlook, broadened perspective

25. Stewards of Human Capital: Colleges Inevitable demographic trends Need for colleges to be proactive on diversity Persistent educational inequality

26. External/Internal Factors • Need for Inclusive Campus • Responsive to Constituent Needs “most first – year college students will likely be students of color” (Picca & Feagin, 2007)

27. Defining Diversity The study of how people are different from one another

28. Diversity Models • Affirmative Action/equity Model • Multicultural Model • Academic Diversity Model -Source: Williams and Clowney (2007)

29. Addressing Diversity in Higher Ed. • In order to adequately address diversity within higher education institutions, the leader of that institution, the president, must possess the “courage, commitment, and determination of the chief executive officer who practices self-accountability and holds other unit leaders to the same level of accountability” (Michael, 2006,p. 23). • College presidents are instrumental for advancing the diversity agenda because they possess authority and can hold people accountable within the institution (Birnbaum, 1992).

30. Cultural Competence • Cultural Competence: A set of congruent behaviors, attitudes, and policies that come together in a system (Cross, T.L., 1988) • Cultural Awareness • Understanding • Knowledge Acquisition • Skill Development • Inductive Learning • Confront their own racism and biases in order to effectively work with others

31. Cultural Competence cont’d • To be culturally competent means to honor and respect the cultural collective values and to temper individual values within the larger context (Lum, D. 2005)

32. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME! QUESTIONS AND THOUGHTS